Book Two: A Criticism of the Highest Values That Have Prevailed Hitherto
II: Criticism of Morality§281 If, in compliance with our communal instincts, we make certain regulations for ourselves and forbid certain acts, we do not of course, in common reason, forbid a certain kind of “existence”, nor a certain attitude of mind, but only a particular application and development of this “existence” and “attitude of mind”. But then the idealist of virtue, the moralist, comes along and says: “God sees into the human heart! What matters it that ye abstain from certain acts: ye are not any better on that account”! Answer: Mr. Longears-and-Virtuous, we do not want to be better at all, we are quite satisfied with ourselves, all we desire is that we should not harm one another and that is why we forbid certain actions when they take a particular direction; that is to say, when they are against our own interests: but that does not alter the fact that when these same actions are directed against the enemies of our community — against you, for instance — we are at a loss to know how to pay them sufficient honour. We educate our children up to them; we develop them to the fullest extent. Did we share that “god-fearing” radicalism which your holy craziness recommends? If we were greenhorns enough to condemn the source of those forbidden “acts” by condemning the “heart” and the “attitude of mind” which recommends them, that would mean condemning our very existence and with it its greatest prerequisite — an attitude of mind, a heart, a passion which we revere with all our soul. By our decrees we prevent this attitude of mind from breaking out and venting itself in a useless way; we are prudent when we prescribe such laws for ourselves; we are also moral in so doing –. Have you no idea, however vague, what sacrifices it has cost us, how much self-control, self-subjection and hardness it has compelled us to exercise? We are vehement in our desires; there are times when we even feel as if we could devour each other –. But the “communal spirit” is master of us: have you observed that this is almost a definition of morality?